Impact PAMA Cuts - Infectious Disease Specialists

The Value of Laboratory Testing

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* 1. In what ways did the 10% cut in the Clinical Lab Fee Schedule for Medicare (effective January 1, 2018) impact your patients? (Check all that apply)

We were not impacted by the 10% cut.

We refer more tests out to another lab.

We dropped to waived testing only.

We closed our lab.

Unsure at this time

Other (please specify)

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* 2. How much do you agree with this statement:

With the additional cuts coming on January 1, 2019, I am very concerned that we will not be able to provide the full range of testing we need to rapidly diagnose infectious disease in our practice.

Highly agree

Agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Disagree

Highly disagree

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* 3. In your opinion, how valuable is near patient/point-of-care testing to identifying or ruling out contagious pathogens that require urgent action by public health officials? (Select one)

It is vital as every second counts when dealing with a potential/actual outbreak.

It is a valuable component of our public health infrastructure.

If access to near patient/point-of-care testing declines, I don't believe it will have an impact on our response to potential/actual outbreaks.

Comment.

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* 4. While maintaining the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for patient confidentiality, can you share a patient story where your lab produced results which led to rapid diagnosis so treatment could begin right away?

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* 5. While maintaining the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for patient confidentiality, can you share a patient story where your lab produced results which led to rapid diagnosis and treatment for the patient to avoid hospitalization or an emergency room visit?

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* 6. Which of the following tests are essential to your practice? (Please check all tests where rapid results are vital to serving your patient population.)

Complete CBC with auto differential (CPT 85025)

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CPT 80053)

A1C Test (CPT 83036)

UA with Reflex to Culture (CPT 87086)

Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (CPT 87077)

Other (please specify)

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* 7. After cuts are phased in over 3 years for the tests listed in the previous question (question 6), the final rate Medicare will pay is as follows:

-CBC will be cut 35.46%
-Comprehensive Metabolic Panel will be cut 37.34%
-A1C will be cut 36.19%
-UA with Reflex Culture will be cut 35.05%
-Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing will be cut 35.11%

How will these fully implemented cuts impact your ability to provide testing? (Select one)

We will no longer provide near patient/point-of-care testing in our practice.

We will continue to provide in-office testing but it will be at a financial loss.

The fully implemented cuts will not impact our ability to provide testing.

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* 8. During an infectious disease outbreak, how important is point of care testing / testing in physician offices to reducing the demand surge on public health and reference laboratories?

Extremely important

Very important

Somewhat important

Not so important

Not at all important

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* 9. Approximately what percentage of your patients are on Medicare?

Less than 10%

10 - 25%

26-50%

51-75%

More than 75%

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* 10. What best describes the community you serve?

Urban/Suburban

Small Town

Rural/Unincorporated area

Frontier/Remote

Native American Territory

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* 1. In what ways did the 10% cut in the Clinical Lab Fee Schedule for Medicare (effective January 1, 2018) impact your patients? (Check all that apply)

Question Title

* 2. How much do you agree with this statement:With the additional cuts coming on January 1, 2019, I am very concerned that we will not be able to provide the full range of testing we need to rapidly diagnose infectious disease in our practice.

Question Title

* 3. In your opinion, how valuable is near patient/point-of-care testing to identifying or ruling out contagious pathogens that require urgent action by public health officials? (Select one)

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* 4. While maintaining the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for patient confidentiality, can you share a patient story where your lab produced results which led to rapid diagnosis so treatment could begin right away?

Question Title

* 5. While maintaining the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for patient confidentiality, can you share a patient story where your lab produced results which led to rapid diagnosis and treatment for the patient to avoid hospitalization or an emergency room visit?

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* 6. Which of the following tests are essential to your practice? (Please check all tests where rapid results are vital to serving your patient population.)

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Question Title

* 8. During an infectious disease outbreak, how important is point of care testing / testing in physician offices to reducing the demand surge on public health and reference laboratories?

Question Title

* 9. Approximately what percentage of your patients are on Medicare?

Question Title

* 10. What best describes the community you serve?

* 2. How much do you agree with this statement:

With the additional cuts coming on January 1, 2019, I am very concerned that we will not be able to provide the full range of testing we need to rapidly diagnose infectious disease in our practice.